Robinson R44 II N74706

Summary

On 30 September 2021 at about 15:15 local time, a Robinson R44 II registered N74706, operated by Universal Helicopters, was involved in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

30 September 2021 at 15:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Coordinates

33.7565, -112.0355

Aircraft

Robinson R44 II

Registration

N74706

Category

Helicopter

Year built

2006

Engines

1

Operator

Universal Helicopters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Scottsdale → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR21LA359

1 person had minor injuries.

The student pilot's failure to maintain helicopter control while making a clearing turn which resulted in a hard landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The solo student pilot reported that, while making a clearing turn, the wind caught the tail and abruptly spun the helicopter. He applied corrective pedal inputs then raised the collective to avoid the ground and the helicopter began to rotate clockwise about the vertical axis and could not be corrected by application of left pedal. About 50 to 60 ft above the ground, he entered an autorotation where the helicopter landed hard and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The student pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the helicopter that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.